Microsoft needs to supply a way for us to read our Publisher files.

Joe Hietter 40 Reputation points
2026-02-01T02:18:30.74+00:00

Why is Publisher being discontinued? I can't believe that the last 15 years of my work is going to become a brick. There has to be a way to read My Publisher Files (as in it was my work). That was a hell of a lot of work. Microsoft needs to offer a way to read publisher files. What's next? Is Microsoft going to take away Windows and tell us we no can access any of our computer files?

Microsoft gave a tool to create our Publisher files. We have a right to continue to access our work.

Some will say you can print your files, but that is not the point. It is the work that went into the file creation that I want to preserve - the blood, sweat, and tears.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Publisher | For business
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Anonymous
2026-02-01T04:14:51.15+00:00

Dear @Joe Hietter,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum. I’m here to help.

I completely understand your concern. Publisher has been a dependable tool for many years, and for users who have built up a large collection of .pub files, the announcement about its retirement can feel both alarming and discouraging. It’s completely valid to want continued access to work you’ve invested countless hours into.

It’s important to note that Microsoft Q&A is a user‑to‑user community, and moderators here do not have the ability to change or reverse Microsoft’s product decisions. Because of that, the best way to make your voice heard by the product engineering team is to submit feedback directly through official channels.

You can send feedback in two ways:

  • Through the Publisher app (Help > Give Feedback), or
  • Go to: Microsoft 365 Feedback Hub > Send Feedback > Describe your request in detail.

There are already several active discussions about the future of Publisher in the feedback portal, so you may want to search for “Publisher” and engage with existing posts by voting or adding comments. High engagement helps bring attention to the issues that matter most to the community.

While the transition away from Publisher is outside my control, I can help you prepare. If you need guidance on exporting your files, preserving your work, or exploring alternative tools, feel free to let me know and I can walk you through your options.

Once again, I truly empathize with the impact this change has on long‑time users like yourself. Publisher has been an important tool for many, and your feedback genuinely matters.

If there is anything else I can support you with as you plan next steps, I’m here to assist.

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AI answer

2026-02-01T02:19:41.4+00:00

Microsoft Publisher is not being discontinued as a product, but there may be concerns regarding compatibility and support for older versions of the software. Users have expressed frustration about the challenges of accessing and editing their Publisher files, especially when transitioning to newer operating systems or versions of Microsoft Office.

While Microsoft does not guarantee that older files will always be accessible in future versions, they typically provide tools and updates to help users manage their documents. If you are experiencing issues with accessing your Publisher files, consider using alternative software like LibreOffice, which can read and create Microsoft Office data files, including Publisher formats.

It's important to keep backups of your work and explore different options for preserving your documents, as software support can change over time.

References:

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